From the blog of Fr. Sergei Sveshnikov. a post entitled "The Danger of Academic Christianity."
Complete article here.It is not uncommon to hear the comment from those outside the Church that Christians seem to be no different from most secular people or from non-believers. Christians recognize this problem as well and often retort that while the Church is indeed “spotless and without blemish” (Eph 5:27), the people who make up the Church “have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23). It is often said that the Church is like a hospital that is naturally full of sick people. Indeed, even such holy men as Saint Macarius the Great prayed: “O God, cleanse me a sinner, for I have never done anything good in Thy sight.” (Yet this should hardly be an occasion to propose that since such great saints never did anything good in the sight of God [and they would not fib or lie about that, would they?], then we are also justified in not doing anything good.)
To be sure, Christianity is not about ‘doing’ per se, and certainly not about ‘doing enough.’ One cannot earn salvation by fulfilling a list of obligations or demand that God pay up for services rendered. God is never indebted to us. But this also does not mean that our action or a lack of one carries no consequences.
Have you ever met a doctor who is a fan of junk food or a nurse who smokes? They possess proper medical knowledge as attested to by their degrees and licenses. They also regularly attend a place of healing – in fact, they work there. They may even undergo regular tests and procedures and take medications for hypertension or diabetes. By the way, these medical professionals are perfectly capable of offering sensible medical advice and prescribing proper medications. And yet, clearly, something is amiss. No one is ever cured by blood pressure pills or insulin. These medicines merely manage symptoms and postpone the inevitable. Diplomas or places of work seem to have even less relevance to one’s health than do pills and injections. Something else is necessary to actually address the illness, something which cannot be picked up at a pharmacy or displayed on a wall...
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So, what is "The one thing needful"? Is it just "one thing" or a suite of activities? Internal or external?
ReplyDeleteAlso looked at his comments 9n the closure of churches. To what extent and in what way do we accommodate the demands of the state?
Here is how I would answer:
Delete"So, what is "The one thing needful"? Is it just "one thing" or a suite of activities? Internal or external? '
Truth, not as an abstraction but lived - communed with.
"Also looked at his comments 9n the closure of churches. To what extent and in what way do we accommodate the demands of the state? "
To the extant that we can. "the state" is not an abstraction at the end of the day but rather our living and breathing neighbors (both in and outside the church). As Fr. Sergei noted love without sacrifice (difficulty, a cross, etc.) is not love. He also noted how piety can be a substitute for Christian love, and indeed seems to be for many if not most Christians. This stark either/or that some want to draw,tThe heroic "Give me Communion or give me death/martyrdom/persecution!" that some Orthodox want to make of "the closure of churches" is often the triumph of piety over sacrificial love.
I think, Jake, what is missing as a demonstration of humility is repentance. Not going about in sack cloth and ashes bringing attention to ourselves but true repentance which as our associate priest pointed out Sunday is the conscious, grateful acceptance of God's mercy often including fasting and almsgiving as well as prayer.
DeleteThat includes the realization that the state is other people.
Thank you.
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